STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1178
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2021
RE: H.C.R. No. 55
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2021
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 55 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO REQUEST A FEDERAL WAIVER FROM STANDARDIZED TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Education to request a federal waiver from standardized testing requirements for the 2020-2021 school year.
Your Committee finds that the virus known as SARS-CoV-2 causes a disease named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which spread globally and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. Your Committee further finds that the COVID-19 outbreak disrupted the public school system, leading to statewide school closures and the widespread adoption of remote learning programs by teachers, parents, and students. Your Committee believes that evaluating students based on standardized tests in light of widespread learning delays would provide an inaccurate measure of each student's academic ability. Implementation of standardized tests would also deplete school resources and funding that would be better devoted to maintaining school staffing levels, providing personal protective equipment, and delivering essential learning programs.
Your Committee notes that, as introduced, this measure may not likely pass in time for it to have an effect on the attainment of a waiver from standardized testing requirements for the 2020‑2021 school year. Therefore, your Committee believes that calling on the Department of Education to reduce standardized testing in public schools, increase the use of authentic assessments that align with real-world problem-solving, and employ project-based learning would be more appropriate.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Amending its title to read, "URGING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO REDUCE THE USE OF STANDARDIZED TESTING IN HAWAII'S PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM."; and
(2) Deleting its contents and inserting language that:
(A) Urges the Board of Education and Department of Education to reduce standardized testing in the public education system;
(B) Urges the Board of Education and Department of Education replace standardized testing with authentic assessments that promote critical thinking and align classroom instruction with real-world problem-solving, including assessments based on project-based learning;
(C) Requests the Department of Education to submit a report to the Legislature on its efforts to reduce standardized testing in public schools prior to the Regular Session of 2022; and
(D) Provides background information and statistics on the recent history and current status of education in Hawaii and the United States of America.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 55, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 55, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
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____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair |
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